Learn about getting food and supplement samples from your local shops at NO COST. I visit health food stores such as GNC, and ask the cashier for freebies, or take items from their basket of product trials. These individual servings will be stored properly in Ziploc bags, and placed in various emergency preparedness kits, plus my Everyday Carry backpack. I have saved tons of money using this method of urban scavenging. You can make your own freebie haul like this with little effort.

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Certified yoga instructor Sarah Whisler guides you through an easy warm up, workout, and cool down in this HD video production. We filmed our “flow” in Seaside, Oregon. Our hope is that you use this video, and create more joy and peace in your life daily. Stay tuned to Survival Bros, because we will be creating even better instructional routines soon. Make yoga a part of your practice, and glow in all the benefits. If you like the video, please share this workout with a friend. Positive comments are also welcome. Thanks!http://soulsearchersarahgirl.wordpress.com/

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Sarah shows you how it’s done on her yoga mat near the beach in Seaside, Oregon.

By Cameron McKirdy
My friend Ira Evansen owns an MMA and CrossFit style school in Gearhart, OR called Valhalla Combat. Like me, Ira is simplifying, and trying minimalist, zero drop shoes for working out. This is our review of several kicks we’ve used for cross training, running, Olympic weightlifting and more.

When Ira first opened his mixed martial arts and cross fitness gym he was exercising in plain old Converse Chuck Taylor’s and Vans. He liked doing CrossFit in these throwbacks because they are minimalistic. Ira even tore out the insoles for a better feel. Ultimately, the toe box of the Chuck T’s felt too narrow for lifting weights. Ira said they were clunky, and heavy. Both pairs worked in the beginning as a transition shoe.

Next coach Ira invested $110 into toe shoes called the Vibram Komodosport. He loves these Paleolithic, minimal training shoes, and they are still in good shape after over 6 months of abuse. In Vibrams he has more feel, and isn’t cramming into narrower shoes. These kicks are made for strength and conditioning. They are machine washable too. Air dry. Ira says they help space his toes out, and are better than normal shoes for his back, hips, and knees.

Another shoe Ira has used during CrossFit workouts is the Reebok Flex Nano. He loves these ones, and wears them most. They were designed by CrossFit athletes for the sport. Ira says they are durable, flexible, and supportive. They’ve even survived countless rope climbs, which would destroy lighter shoes. Ira uses them for everything, from running, to Olympic Weightlifting. His favorite feature is the comfortable, wide toe box, so he can spread his toes out for stability. If you’re serious about CrossFit, check these babies out.
Then there’s the Inov-8 F-Lite 195. These bad boys are super light, yet supportive, with a thin sole. You can feel pebbles and the ground, but not enough to make it uncomfortable. The Inov-8’s are ideal for running. They are very flexible, and they look really cool. Ira told me these shoes are unreal, in a good way. They are the white pair pictured below.

Finally, let’s review the newest Vibram running shoes, called Seeya. They are the flashy, yellow and black ones pictured in the bottom right. These are the lightest you can get! They have a convenient strap, so you can easily loosen them for more comfort. The Seeya’s are great for sprinters, plus they are heavy duty, so they aren’t going to rip. So sick! They retail for $100.

In summary, there are many quality shoes out there now for CrossFit. Most are minimalistic, low top, and zero drop. All around, we like the Reeboks most for strength training, but the Vibrams for running. It all depends on how you workout. Try a few types on, just get into minimalistic shoes. They are the future of footwear. Now go workout.

Looking for a secret spot to swim? Most tourists don’t know about The End of The World in Seaside Oregon. Here’s a quick blog about training in the estuary.

To find this chill beach spot, drive down 12 Ave. and turn right on N Franklin St. Go to the dead end and park. Take the short trail North to the beach. Hidden in the grass is yet another trail to explore.

The estuary is a great place to train. I swam the last two days there. The water is so cold! Maybe that’s why we were the only ones spashing around. When we went, the current was sucking hard into the Pacific Ocean. My hommie and I challenged ourselves to go upstream. I swam freestyle, then began swim-running in the shallow water. My Marine buddy worked on his survival/combat stroke. The combat side stroke, aka CSS was developed and taught by the United States Navy Seals. He was swimming on his side, kicking, and front crawling through the current. He had a very efficient technique. Learn that.

Swimming up current is tough. Survival Bros challenges YOU to try it this summer. Plus, If you like crab, you can wade through the estuary with a rake for an easy dinner. 2 or 3 crabs should satisfy your hunger after aqua running. All you need is melted butter.

Survival Bros is all about challenging yourself. Make missions for yourself to complete. It can be anything, from an endurance bike ride to swimming against Mother Nature. Go hard this summer. You’re responsible for your health. More preparedness blogs coming soon. Best wishes from the beach.